Tube Workers to Strike

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Tube Workers to Strike

Firefighters Determined to Safeguard the Future of the Fire Service

Demonstration in Remembrance of Payman Bahmani

London Underground workers belonging to the Rail Maritime and Transport Union have voted to strike in a dispute over pay, and the union has threatened to strike over the issue of safety in the event of a firefighters' strike.

Around 8,000 ballot papers were distributed to RMT members. There were 2,518 votes in favour of industrial action and 647 against, a majority of 4-1.

Union leaders will announce strike dates later this month, but walkouts could begin in a few weeks.

Members of the drivers' union ASLEF are currently voting on whether to strike in the same dispute and any action could be co-ordinated, which would shut down the network.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow announced the likelihood of tube strikes this month over the 3% wage increase imposed by management. Bob Crow told a press conference at the RMT head office that London Underground (LU) had refused to go to independent arbitration.

"Our members are angry that LU has not only refused to go to independent mediation to settle this dispute, but has actually lowered its pay offer because we would not sign away our right to strike," he said.

Bob Crow called on LU to settle the dispute by mediation, pointing out that mediation had settled the last pay dispute and that there was no reason why it should not settle this one. He continued, "LU know that three per cent is too low. In fact, it’s the lowest offer from any train operating company this year. They also know that they cannot justify still having people on different working hours and people doing the same job but with different pension and travel pass entitlements."

"We have seen staff levels fall by a third over the last ten years, while passenger numbers are up by 30 per cent and passenger revenue has more than doubled. Our members deserve recognition that they work harder and carry far greater responsibility," the RMT general secretary said. "Instead," he continued, "they are being asked to subsidise the guaranteed, risk-free profits being handed to the privateers taking over the LU infrastructure. We will be consulting with our colleagues in ASLEF and, unless LU come back to us with a more realistic offer, we will be announcing strike dates in due course."

Bob Crow also announced that the RMT has written to LU asking for guarantees over safety in the event of industrial action by the firefighters, and that if that is not forthcoming by September 10, then RMT members will be striking on days when firefighters strike.

He said: "I am concerned that inferior appliances and poorly trained operatives will be used in place of the usual highly trained professional firefighters, and that this could put the safety of my members and the travelling public at risk." He continued: "I have therefore today asked London Underground to carry out a risk assessment alongside our safety reps within the next seven days, to ascertain the risk to Tube staff and commuters, using the ALARP (As Low As Reasonably Practicable) rule.

"I have told LU that I expect their response by September 10, and that failure to take measures to defend the safety of my members will result in a dispute between the company and this union."

Bob Crow said that the RMT would be giving similar notice to other train operating companies that run trains underground – Merseyrail Electrics, Central Trains at Birmingham New Street and Tyne and Wear Metro – and have a safety agreement with RMT similar to London Underground.

It is evident that now is the time for rail workers, along with others, to take the initiative. Neither the capitalists themselves nor the government have any solution to the crisis, and the finance capitalists and the government work hand in glove over PFI and PPP. Although this is said to do with raising funds for public projects, such schemes have been exposed time and again as methods for fleecing the working people and channelling funds into the pockets of the financiers at a time when other sources do not provide the same return on capital.

It is very just of the rail workers to raise the issue of safety alongside the issue of their pay and conditions. Both are crucial for the future of the tube and other rail services, as well as for the wellbeing of the workers themselves. To develop their own initiative is the crucial step the workers can take at this time.

Over 12,000 Fire Brigades Union (FBU) members lobbied the National Joint Council fire service negotiating body on Monday at Westminster Central Hall as union leaders announced plans for a national strike over the firefighters' £30,000 a year pay claim.

At present, the pay of firefighters is low enough that some can claim family tax credit. Not a few are doing secondary jobs in order to make ends meet. What is increasingly being hammered home is that firefighters, along with other sections of the workers, are declaring their worth, and are not prepared to tolerate a situation where this worth is not recognised by the government or employers. Such is the case with the firefighters' claim for a £30,000 wage for all staff. At present fully trained firefighters are paid £21,531 a year, while emergency fire control officers are paid 92 per cent of this rate.

The firefighters explain that it is unjust that they should simply be regarded as manual labourers. It is no good insisting, as the employers and the government are doing, that any pay offer must be linked to an "independent" inquiry into "modernisation".

The firefighters reject the need for such an inquiry. Two inquiries have already been held which found that firefighters were worth £30,000 a year. Not only do they have to fight fires but their call-out duties cover a whole range of incidents from road traffic accidents, to chemical spillages and train crashes. On top of this, the government is talking of privatising the fire service.

The FBU lobby was supported by ASLEF general secretary Mick Rix, Communication Workers Union general secretary Billy Hayes, and NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear. Billy Hayes pointed out: "Isn't it strange that, when we hear talk about war, we never hear that there's not enough money to kill people? If there is enough money to go to war, there is enough money to pay firefighters."

The mood of the firefighters is one of being determined to safeguard the future of the fire service in this country, and to be paid their worth in their responsible profession.

A demonstration is to be held in Sunderland on Wednesday, September 4, in remembrance of Payman Bahmani. Payman, an Iranian restaurant worker seeking asylum, was found dead in a Sunderland street last Wednesday. He was rushed to Sunderland Royal Infirmary but died later the same day.

Friends of the murdered man have discussed with a number of organisations concerned to oppose racist attacks what can be done to support the Iranian community in Sunderland. Payman Bahmani fled to Britain from his native Iran two years ago.